Bid To Censor Rogers Prompted Move

Something to look forward to: Neil Rogers says that someday he'll tell the whole story of the contract negotiations that culminated in his jump from WIOD radio to all-sports WQAM.

In his characteristically colorful manner, Rogers promises, ''It'll make your hair stand on end.'' In the meantime, Rogers' fans will have to settle for the condensed version, which is still pretty juicy.

A window opened for Rogers to consider new options when Paxson Communications' acquisition of Cox-owned WIOD was completed on Sept. 30, 1996. Rogers had signed a five-year contract in February 1994, which contained an escape clause should WIOD change hands. Rogers had a year from the date of a sale to terminate his contract, provided he gave 60 days notice.

Rogers is an outspoken, controversial showman on the air. Off the air he is soft-spoken and cordial, with a strong sense of professional loyalty. His initial inclination, he says, was to stay at WIOD, which has been his radio home for eight years.

''I didn't want to create a bidding war or anything like that. I was trying to be a nice guy. That was my stupidity.''

Indeed, Rogers and his attorney, Norm Kent, approached Paxson about an extension to his contract. In return for a longer deal, they sought a signing bonus and a pay raise, a customary practice in show business.
According to Kent, the Paxson people were amenable. (Attempts to reach Jay Hoker, president of the Paxson radio group, were unsuccessful. A secretary said he is out of town.)

Rogers' salary was to be kicked up to about $ 650,000 a year (from approximately $ 500,000) and he would get a $ 200,000 signing bonus. A meeting to formalize the contract extension was set. Rogers even told his listeners on the air that he had agreed to re-up.

However, problems arose when Paxson demanded a quid for its quo.
Palm Beach resident Bud Paxson, who owns the company, is a born-again Christian, and he reportedly was put off by some of the racy material on Rogers' show. His lieutenants asked Rogers to sign an agreement that he would tone down - in effect, cease doing _ such material. Any departure from Paxson's restrictions could result in immediate termination.

As far as Rogers is concerned, Paxson wanted to strip the format that has dominated South Florida ratings throughout the '80s and '90s.

Kent says he informed Paxson, ''We will not change anything in the contract that reduces Neil's rights.''

During the ensuing give-and-take, the new owner made a counteroffer of ''three strikes and you're out,'' according to Rogers. He wouldn't be subject to firing until he violated company policy - which goes beyond FCC guidelines - three times within 12 months. There are days when Rogers violates the rigid rules being suggested three times in 12 minutes. ''We told them to stick it,'' Kent says.

Finally, Rogers set a deadline for Paxson to agree to a new deal with the old language. Fifteen minutes before the deadline, according to Rogers, Paxson officials called and said they would go along. Rogers said he thought the deal was done. That was on a Friday. By the following Monday, Rogers says, a new complication arose. Paxson wanted Rogers to sign an agreement to abide by a company policy manual. It is not as restrictive as the conditions suggested previously, but it still would have cramped Rogers'
style.

This breach of faith, as the talk host considered it, was the final straw. ''Every time we thought we had a deal, they came up with some new crap,'' Rogers says.

Kent was authorized to open negotiations with WQAM. While WQAM's format is all-sports, Rogers makes a neat fit because he is an avid sports fan and his program already features a heavy dose of sports talk. Moreover, Rogers' audience is dominated by young males, WQAM's target audience.

''WIOD jerked us around for five months,'' Kent says. ''I had an agreement with WQAM for twice the money within 24 hours. Within 72 hours, everything was approved.'' The deal was sealed at the end of last week.
Rogers will keep his current hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the show will not change in any way, he says.

The only remaining issues are when Rogers will leave WIOD and start on WQAM. Contractually, he is bound to WIOD until Sept. 30. He says he will honor this commitment, although he hopes WIOD will release him early.

His contract also contains a 90-day no-compete clause, which could keep him off WQAM until Jan. 1. ''I'm hoping that we can work something out so that that doesn't happen,'' Rogers says.

If it does, he says he has been promised by WQAM that he will be paid while sitting on the sidelines. WQAM extended the same consideration when Jeff DeForest moved over from WIOD at the end of last year. Rogers jokes that he wouldn't mind having a few months off with pay to travel, especially at his new salary level.

Asked how it feels to finally be in the million-dollar-a-year category, Rogers quips, ''Great. I think I've earned it after all I've been put through.'